For Starters, Nebraska Has 2 At Qb

Freshman From Illinois Enters Land Of The Giants

LINCOLN, Neb. — Jeff Clausen grew up in Dixon, Ill. The boyhood home of Ronald Reagan sits in the very heart of Big Ten territory, a reasonable drive from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

So when Clausen sprouted into a 6-foot-7-inch, 275-pound behemoth, it figured that he'd wind up playing football for a school in the nation's oldest major conference. But Clausen blew off the Big Ten last winter and signed with Nebraska, which has produced more Outland Trophy winners (seven) than any other school.

"If there's anywhere you want to be an offensive lineman, it's here," Clausen said after reporting to the Cornhusker camp this week.

It didn't hurt that Clausen's coach at Dixon High School, Greg Sprenger, used to be a high school coach in Nebraska and is, according to Clausen, "a diehard Nebraska fan."

Clausen was a big deal at Dixon--he also played basketball and competed in discus and shot put--but he said he felt rather tiny when he met some of Nebraska's returning linemen. "I've definitely been in awe," he said. "It's wearing off now. I've got to get in the weight room."

Clausen, who's aiming to increase his weight to 300 pounds, is expected to redshirt this season.